Shoe counter



B. RIVKI N SHOE COUNTER Aug. 1o, 1937.

Filed Dec. 28, 1935 INVENTOR b w m t Patented Aug. 10, 1937 PATENTOFFICE SHOE COUNTER Bert Rivkin, Fresno, Calif.; :by distribution of.

court to Minnie Rivkin, Widow of said Bert Rivkin, deceased, assigner toEmile Z. Rivkin,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 28, 1935, Serial No. 56,529

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to shoes and is directed particularlyto the structure of shoe counters.

In shoes, especially womens pumps, there is a tendency in many cases forthe sides of the shoe, adjacent the wearers ankle, to gap or bulge awayfrom the foot.

It isI therefore the principal object of this invention to provide acounter which when embodied in a shoe will keep the sides of the shoe insnug engagement with the sides of the wearers foot and prevent theaforementioned undesirable gapping or bulging.

An additional object of my invention is to provide such a shoe counterwhich will accomplish the desired result without interfering with thedesign or comfort of the shoe.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensivedevice and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposefor which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several views:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a shoe counter, of usual configuration,provided with the spring elementswhich prevent the sides of the shoefrom gapping- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the spring elementsdetached.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View illustrating a shoe counter, providedwith the spring elements, as attached to a heel.

Referring now more particularly tothe characters of reference on thedrawing, the numeral I indicates a shoe counter of usual constructionand configuration. Secured tov the outer sides of the counter on bothsides and adjacent the back end of the counter, are spring elements,indicated generally at 2. Each spring element comprises a plate 3increasing in width from bottom to top.

This plate conforms to the contour of the portion of the shoe counterwith which it contacts, and being preferably formed of a thin springsteel, it does not materially add to the thickness of the shoe counter.To secure the top of the plate to the counter, prongs 4 may be formed inspaced relation along the upper edge of plate 3 and bent down over theedge of the counter to secure the plate in place. If desired, the prongscan be formed so as to merely project into the side of the counteradjacent the top edge, or the plate 3 may be provided with a series ofopenings and then sewn to the counter.

A finger 5 is formed integral with and projects inwardly from the lowerend of each plate and extends through a slot in the counter at thebottom thereof as at 6; each finger 5 being of sufficient length toextend a short distance beyond the heel center in overlapping relationto the finger of the opposite plate 3. Each finger is slotted, as at l,and a screw passes through said slots and rigidly secures the lingers tothe heel 9. The slots 6 are disposed so that the overlapping fingers 5lie immediately above the bottom inturned flanges la of the counter andare, of course, disposed between the said anges la and an insole l0, asshown in Fig. 3.

When my improved device is incorporated in a shoe, the outer cover andinner lining of the Shoe completely enclose the plate 3 and the prongs land as the plate and prongs are of thin material their presence is notnoticeable through the outer cover, nor do the overturned prongs 4 causethe wearer any discomfort.

The spring elements, when embodied in a shoe, exert an inward pressureon the sides of the counter and consequently cause the sides of the shoeto cling to the wearers foot and gapping is entirely overcome. Asheretofore stated, the spring elements including plates 3 and fingers 5are formed from sp-ring steel and the tension is such that when a shoeis placed on the wearers foot, the sides of the counter and the attachedplate will move outward, resulting in an increase of the tension andwhich tension prevents further outward movement of the sides of theshoe.

By reason of the slots in the fingers 5, the elements 2, andconsequently the adjacent portions of the counter, may be adjustedlaterally. In this manner, the shoe may be adjusted to the width of thefoot, and may be made tight or loose, as the wearers comfort or desiremay dictate. This counter adjustment is of course separate from theautomatic or spring adjustment inherently obtained by the use of thespring elements.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I haveproduced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a shoe having a counter, separate spring plates on the outside ofthe counter on opposite 5 sides thereof, a laterally projectingextension o-n the bottom of the plate forming a finger for attachment tothe heel of the shoe, and prongs along the top' of the plate adapted tobe bent over the top of the counter to hold the plate se- 10 cured tothe counter.

2. In a shoe having a counter, separate spring plates on the outsideofthe counter on opposite sides thereof, a laterally projectingextension on the bottom of the plate forming a finger for at-

